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Goya Maria Cookies
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

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Goya Maria Cookies

30 g

Bad out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains fragrance
  • Contains added sugars
  • Seed-oil free
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Why it scores 8

Goya Maria Cookies scores 8 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
  3. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better cookies

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Maria Cookies

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Corn syrup
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Fragrance (parfum)
    Regulatory A single label term covers an undisclosed mixture. [4][5][6]
  • Sodium bisulfite
    Regulatory Sulfites must be declared above 10 mg/kg in the EU and UK and at 10 ppm or more in the US because some people, especially people with asthma, react to them. [7][8][9]
subtotal−50

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [10]
  • 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: emulsifier, industrial fat and industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate. [10]
subtotal−21

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 20 g / 100 g
    Strong Very high in sugar. [1]
  • Saturated fat 5 g / 100 g
    Strong High in saturated fat. [11]
  • Salt 0.8 g / 100 g
    Strong High in salt. [12]
  • Energy 433 kcal / 100 g
    Info Energy-dense for its weight. [2]
subtotal−21
TOTAL 8Bad

100 − 92 = 8

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

GTIN 00041331049436 · 2026-09-21

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy433 kcal
Fat10 g
Saturated fat5 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates80 g
Sugars20 g
Added sugars25 g
Fiber0 g
Protein6.7 g
Salt0.8 g

Serving: 6 cookies (32 g)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, VEGETABLE FAT, GLUCOSE SYRUP, SALT, GASIFIERS (SODIUM BICARBONATE AND AMMONIA BICARBONATE), EMULSIFIER (SOYA LECITHIN), POWDERED WHEY, SCENTS, ANTIOXIDANTS (SODIUM BISULPHITE AND NATURAL TOCOPHEROL EXTRACTS).

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Sulphites

  • Not vegan
  • Not gluten-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest cookies in the US

More from Goya

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 of 26 July 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as regards labelling of fragrance allergens in cosmetic products

    European Union (Official Journal) · Jul 26, 2023 · Law

    “when their concentration exceeds 0,001 % in leave-on products and 0,01 % in rinse-off products.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  5. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products

    European Union (Official Journal) · Nov 30, 2009 · Law

    “cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  6. Fragrances in Cosmetics

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Regulator

    fda.gov

  7. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 25, 2011 · Law

    “ANNEX II SUBSTANCES OR PRODUCTS CAUSING ALLERGIES OR INTOLERANCES 1. Cereals containing gluten, namely: wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut or their hybridised strains”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  8. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (as it applies in the UK), Annex II: substances or products causing allergies or intolerances

    legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Law

    “1. Cereals containing gluten, namely: wheat (such as spelt and khorasan wheat), rye, barley, oats or their hybridised strains, and products thereof”

    legislation.gov.uk

  9. 21 CFR 101.100 Food; exemptions from labeling (sulfiting agents)

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Feb 17, 2022 · Law

    ecfr.gov

  10. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  11. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  12. Sodium reduction (fact sheet)

    World Health Organization · May 11, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”

    who.int

  13. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”

    doi.org

  14. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org